A shark (family Lamnidae) about 4 m long, but with females sometimes reaching 6 m, that has a grey back and a white belly (countershading) that makes it difficult to see. They are intelligent and very curious. White sharks are carnivores, feeding on fish, cetaceans, and other marine animals. They have bitten humans on many occasions, but they do not hunt humans as prey. White sharks occur worldwide in coastal and offshore waters at a temperature of 12°C and 24°C.